I found this book had promise in the first half but I have to say the story did not hold my full attention for the second half of the book. I also found the ending very abrupt and odd. There is a certain charm to the book and I love the idea of a curiosity shop. Certainly cosy but low on mystery.

Thank you Netgalley

The Cotswolds and murder mysteries just go together. A little sleepy town where nothing bad could have ever happened... and then *bam* a murder takes place and of course the newcomer is accused and must investigate to clear their name. Doesn't it just sound perfect? It's probably why most of my favourite series feature the Cotswolds and Debbie Young's newest book, Death at the Old Curiosity Shop, has joined those ranks!

After the dissolution of her long term relationship, Alice Carroll is looking to settle in the country and pick up the pieces of her life. Alice purchases a little shop with an apartment above in the cozy town of Little Pride. She wants to rid the property of the shop - selling off its contents. However the town's occupants have other ideas and soon she is running a shop and enjoying herself. All that changes when a dead body is discovered and the neighbours start finger pointing trying to discover who the killer is.

I really enjoy mid-life mysteries. I myself am in mid-life and the idea that despite any circumstances you can just start again really appeals to me. Alice is full of spirit and she's determined to put her bad relationship behind her and start over in Little Pride and I love how she throws herself into running the little shop, especially with all the interesting [and maybe crazy!] people that live in the town.

The mystery is really fascinating. I read a lot of mysteries and I especially liked the archaeological aspect, as I haven't read many mysteries with this feature. The author has clearly done her research in finding out the history of the area and it has made me want to visit the Cotswolds even more!!

If you are looking to cozy up with a compelling whodunnit this Fall you can't get better than Death at the Old Curiosity Shop. It will leave you with that warm, cozy feeling that comes from visiting a quaint town and helping to solve a mystery... after all isn't that what everyone wants, or just me?

A great start to what promises to be a fantastic series!

Alice Carroll is looking forward to getting settled in her new village home; having separated from her long term boyfriend and his endless collections, she is keen to live a minimalist life. However, her intentions to turn the shop into a home hit a snag when the locals make it clear that they intend for the shop to remain and, apparently, there's a bit of legalese which supports that. Then, in the midst of all that, a dead body turns up in her neighbour's compost heap and, suddenly, village life doesn't seem quite so peaceful . . .

This is a terrific start to a cosy mystery series - a genre I'm very fond of. With well-crafted characters and plenty going on, I relished every word and this is definitely a series I shall be looking out for. For me, 4.5* and my recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

Cozy crime at its best this has Alice Carroll as the main character who buys the Old Curiosity Shop not realising that it comes with certain conditions, such as selling all the stock that is still there! When it becomes obvious that there are some dodgy dealings going on and then a body is found Alice decides to start sleuthing. Fabulous characters, humour, friendship and an engaging storyline this is a brilliant read. I loved Alice as a character and how she is written with a big, fun personality and has a cheeky side. Can’t wait for the next book and to find out what’s next in store for the village of Little Pride! Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC

This is a really lovely cozy crime novel with Alice as our protagonist and owner of a newly squires home which she hasn’t realised is still a going concern as a village shop.

Meeting the local characters Alice puts her heart into the place to make it a home and a living and uncovers a possible crime taking place next door. When a body is discovered in a compost heap and a friend from the council is attacked Alice isn’t sure who she can trust.

Well written with plenty of laughs and irony. I enjoyed the characters and the description of the lovely village and it’s inhabitants. One I would recommend to lovers of the cozy crime genre.

When Alice Carroll enters Curiosity Cottage, a charming former bric-a-brac shop in the Cotswold village of Little Pride, she believes it's the ideal spot to begin a new chapter in her life. Having just separated from her long-term partner, a collector, and facing redundancy, she is eager to start afresh with a minimalist lifestyle. Alice's only task is to clear out the remaining stock and settle down. However, the residents of Little Pride have different plans, and Alice soon discovers they are not ready to let go of their cherished shop without a struggle. The discovery of a body buried in her neighbor's compost heap reveals that there is more to Little Pride and its inhabitants than one might suspect, with plenty of suspects and eccentric personalities.

This novel marks the beginning of a series, and thus the first half dedicates time to establishing the scene, delaying the moment when Alice must employ her full range of abilities to uncover the culprit. I appreciate that Alice is portrayed as an older, clearly intelligent woman. Initially overly trusting, she quickly adapts. The Cotswold backdrop is enchanting, adding a layer of tension with the classic town versus country debate. I eagerly anticipate the next book to see Alice's evolution. With thanks to Boldwood Books for an arc in exchange for a review.

I love cozy mysteries, and here I am always ready to read a new one and combine it with a cup of chocolate in rainy weather.

We meet Alice who moves to a small town where we meet many colorful and fun characters, and like all cozy a dead body turns up which starts to move our protagonist to become an amateur sleuth.

Funny moments, short chapters makes the plot and the mystery was super quick to read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for honest opinions.

Review of Death at the Old Curiosity Shop by Debbie Young

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Death at the Old Curiosity Shop is a charming cozy mystery that takes its time to build momentum. For me, it wasn’t until about halfway through the book that things really started to get interesting. I’m not typically a fan of amateur detective stories, and while I found the book enjoyable, it lacked the depth in British police procedure that I would have liked to see. That said, this is very much a cozy mystery, and I think fans of the genre will appreciate its light, engaging tone and the quirky characters. While it didn’t completely win me over, it will likely be a hit for cozy mystery lovers.

#BoldwoodBooks #ARC #NetGalley #AuthorsWhoRead #Bookstagram

Death at the Old Curiosity Shop is one part delightful and another part cozy. Reading this felt like the perfect cup of tea that never ran out, coupled with a fuzzy blanket on a day with perfect weather.

When Alice moves to the picture perfect idyllic Cotswolds, she meets a world of characters that just seem quaint and fun. When a dead body shows up, she knows maybe there's more than meets the eye in the little village.

This book is fun. It's uncomplicated, has short chapters, and at no point does it feel too heavy. The writing feels fresh, as do the characters, setting, and plot.

I particularly really loved Alice and wanted her to have everything good in the world. She felt very relatable in more ways than one.

The book did feel a bit off with pacing- the murder plot takes a while to happen, allowing for a slow start to the book, and then the ending felt rushed. However, this balanced out with meeting each character, so the setting becomes the story at some point.

Title: Death at the Old Curiosity Shop
Author: Debbie Young
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Kindle Page Count: 251
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Start Date: Sept. 18, 2024
Finish Date: Sept. 29, 2024
Anticipated Publish Date:
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Death at the Old Curiosity Shop is a cozy mystery with plenty of village charm and quirky characters. The setting is delightful, and the community feel is like a warm cup of tea. But the mystery itself is a bit lukewarm—more of a slow stroll than a nail-biter. It’s a cute, easy read, but don’t expect edge-of-your-seat excitement!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This started out feeling like a quirky book. It has some interesting characters. It moves fairly quickly and becomes a murder mystery. I would say it makes a nice cosy mystery. I do kinda feel like it ended abruptly and left some loose ends. It was still enjoyable

Cute, breezy read with lots of interesting characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in excahnge for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Debbie Young for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death at the Old Curiosity Shop coming out October 11, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It was a short read. I really love cozy mysteries and this setting in a quaint English village was a lot of fun. Alice was a great character. I love starting over stories. Loved the mystery. I’d definitely read more books by this author!

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys English cozy mysteries!

Thank you Netgalley for this Arc!

4 stars! This is a very specific brand of book, and it is my first run with it. I enjoyed it alot, and it kind of gave me the same vibes as the film knives out. Its cheeky and its suspenseful!

After an unexpected breakup with her long term boyfriend, Alice Carroll buys a cottage in Cotswald which also houses
Nell ittle's Cotswold Curiosity Shop. When she suddenly is let go from her museum job, she hoped that sales
from the shop will help her finances as she seeks another position. When a body of the construction
worker whi had been giving her shards from a local job is discovered, Alice wonders about the connection
between the shards and the construction project .An attempted murder of a patron at her ship reinforces her goal of
uncovering the murderer. Interesting characters - good start to a new series.
#DeathattheOldCuriosityShop #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley

It was a cute, easy, quick read - yet it was also semi underwhelming. I love books set in the English countryside — can you get a better setting? Yet, Death at the Old Curiosity Shop left me wanting.
I love Agatha Christie, and was waiting for the murder mystery aspect of the book to kick in yet it never really did, and then the book was over. It was just lack luster.
I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley, but also don’t see myself recommending this to anyone.

Book Review: Death at the Old Curiosity Shop by Debbie Young

I was immediately drawn into Death at the Old Curiosity Shop, the start of a brand-new cozy mystery series by Debbie Young. From the first page, I felt transported to the charming village of Little Pride, where Alice Carroll’s fresh start quickly spirals into intrigue.

Alice is a relatable character, navigating life after a long-term relationship and embracing a minimalist lifestyle. Her excitement about running Curiosity Cottage is palpable, but I loved how quickly she learns that the village is anything but ordinary. The quirky residents and their attachment to the shop added layers of charm and conflict that kept me engaged.

The plot thickened dramatically when a body is discovered in her neighbor's compost heap. Young masterfully blends humor with suspense, creating a delightful atmosphere that’s perfect for a cozy mystery. I appreciated how the story unfolded, revealing the secrets of Little Pride and its inhabitants with each twist.

The writing is warm and inviting, making it easy to visualize the picturesque Cotswolds setting. The characters are well-crafted, each adding depth and color to the narrative. I felt like I was part of the village, getting to know not just Alice, but also the locals who play pivotal roles in the unfolding mystery.

Debbie Young has created a compelling mix of mystery and community that left me eagerly turning pages. I found myself chuckling at the humor while simultaneously trying to piece together the clues. The blend of cozy elements with a murder mystery is handled beautifully, ensuring that fans of the genre will be delighted.

Overall, Death at the Old Curiosity Shop is a fantastic start to what promises to be an engaging series. I can’t wait to see where Alice’s journey takes her next in Little Pride!

After losing both a long-term relationship and her job in a city museum, Alice Carroll moves to 'a rambling cottage in the country' in the quaint Cotswold village of Little Pride.

Following the introduction of a body in the first chapter, the first 50% of the book almost made me forget all may not be as it seems in Little Pride.

An eccentric cast of characters, a charismatic neighbor, a possible archeological find - and one or more bodies - kept me engaged in this first book in a new cozy mystery series by Debbie Young.

I loved this book, and I’m so pleased that it’s the start of a new series, having enjoyed Debbie Young’s Sophie Sayers cosy murder series. It was a nice touch for Hector’s bookshop to put in a cameo appearance! The first part of the book is like reading an episode of Escape to the Country as Alice moves out of the city to a small village. The descriptions of the shop and it’s contents are brilliant, and I found myself getting quite anxious about the outcome (but I can’t say anymore or it’d give away part of the story). I’m looking forward to reading further books in this series.

'Death at the Old Curiosity Shop' is a small-town cozy mystery set in England. I enjoyed watching Alice learn how to thrive amidst some very unfortunate circumstances. I could see this becoming a series, as we follow this shop owner/historian's journey.

If you enjoy reading light-hearted mysteries with small town drama, then I recommend this book to you!

Special thanks to the Publisher, Boldwood Books, and Net Galley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.